Potential Impacts of Hydralazine as a Novel Antioxidant on Cardiovascular and Renal Disease—Beyond Vasodilation and Blood Pressure Lowering

Hydralazine is a traditional antihypertensive drug that was developed several decades ago. Its most well-known effect is blood pressure lowering by arterial vasodilation. While mainly used an adjunct treatment for clinical hypertension or chronic heart failure, this old drug has also shown potential as a repurposing drug for the atherosclerosis vascular disease and various kidney diseases. Recent experimental studies suggest that hydralazine exerts antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, and HIF-1α stabilization effects for angiogenesis and vascular protection. Hydralazine also exerts reno-protective effects via its antioxidation, DNA demethylation, and anti-inflammation abilities. The above evidence provides advanced rationales for new applications of this drug beyond blood pressure lowering and arterial vasodilation. Here, we summarized the recent experimental advances in the use of hydralazine for either a vascular disease or kidney diseases, or both. Given the wide populations of people with cardiovascular and/or kidney diseases, future studies are worth validating the potential impacts of hydralazine on the clinical outcomes in selected patients.